Fish compensation program

Page Content

After the 2013 flood, The City completed several riverbank stabilization and rehabilitation projects at various locations along the Bow and Elbow Rivers. While necessary, these projects resulted in the loss of fish habitat.

The City recognized these impacts and, with support from both Alberta Environment and Parks and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, developed a plan to compensate for the damage and conserve this important habitat. The City’s plan has three main goals: mapping the existing fish habitat, determining habitat preferences, and creating and implementing a prioritized list of compensation projects.

Existing habitat was mapped to provide an updated record of what exists within the city limits. The Bow, Elbow, Nose Creek, West Nose Creek and Fish Creek were all included in the study. Fish habitat mapping breaks the river down into several habitat types, including runs, riffles, pools, snyes, backwaters, cascades and rapids.

Other features in the river were also documented such as the type of substrate (material on the bottom of the river), type of bank, and instream cover such as fallen trees that can provide protection and resting areas for fish. The habitat preferences of all local fish species were also studied.

In total, over 45 potential compensation projects were identified and then ranked using a triple bottom line method that considered the social, environmental (beyond just fish), and economic impacts and benefits of each project. The resulting top three ranking projects are all side channel reconnection projects and include works in the following areas:

Consultants may be on site to collect soil and sediment samples, and to conduct field surveys in Bowmont and Beaverdam Flats during spring and summer 2017. Some of this preliminary work to gather data may include using equipment to dig small areas.

Should you have any questions on the fish habitat study or these projects, please contact 311.

What is bioengineering, and how does it help fish compensation?

When plant roots and branches grow along the river's edge they weave together forming a sturdy network that helps hold soil in place. This organic structure protects the riverbank from erosion and provides natural habitat for birds, insects, fish and other wildlife.

Traditional engineered bank protection like rock riprap or concrete creates a hard barrier to protect infrastructure such as roads, bridges, pipelines and property from erosion. Since this strategy overwhelms most vegetation along the riverbank, root systems disappear, natural habitats are lost and biodiversity is threatened.

​Biogineering combines vegetation and built components to shore up eroding riverbanks. Water loving shrubs, trees, grasses and other native plant matter take root among structural elements like timber crib wall, rock lining or boulders, fortifying the land.

The City often uses trees removed for various construction and infrastructue projects to create these new habitats, ensuring they do not go to waste. The resulting natural habitats support a diversity of birds, insects, fish and wildlife.